Shio

Shio's train slowed gracefully to a stop, only a blast of air indicating the high speed train had arrived in Ward. Originally from Echo, Shio had caught the train to Ward in order to travel down to Toran. It was the traditional city for a trainer to start their journey. It was the first time she had freedom like this - to make her own decisions. Her life had always been dominated by training in a wide variety of fields. She had been integral to the success of her family getting their Arena back, ousting the Dama family, noted for their training of ghost Natrelmon, sending them to Armkfish instead.

With Echo Arena back under their control. Shio had lost a duel against her brother. He would run the Arena for their family, while she would be granted the freedom to travel. She still didn't understand how she felt about it. She had transitioned to travelling instantly - as it was the only logical choice for her to make. She had chosen a Kohitsuji and an Eletta as her starting Natrelmon. She had always identified with those Natrelmon, having somewhat of a dream to have her own Natrelmon farm. Eishund line, one of the two forms of Eletta, was a noted guard dog of Kohitsuji's line when they are both domesticated. This appealed to Shio in some sense.

The train stop was rather short, but Shio had been able to find a vendor that sold ice cream. She wasn't sure what flavor it was, since her experience with a diverse range of food was rather limited, but she had thoroughly enjoyed it. Enough that she had gotten a second kind, this time in a cone. After that, it was time for her to get back onto the train and make the final leg of her journey to Toran. She had been there a couple of times as an exorcist. The family had actually ran the Red Nakumo restaurant and had provided her first experience with the flavors of Toranese cooking. She had loved the noodle dish they were so famous for and she was eager to repeat that experience.

After locking her compartment door and slide back to the point of greatest reinforcement of the compartment's structure, away from the window, Shio let herself slip into a light sleep for the remainder of her leg. Once in Toran, she took in the reddening trees that surrounded the train's station and dotted the cityscape. With the brilliant setting orange sun, it make the trees appear as if they were on fire. It reminded her of the purifying flames used during the Suzaku Festival.

For now, she set off into the city to find board for the night.

Kito rubbed the ring he wore, something he often did when he was lost in his thoughts about his parents. Shaking his head clear, he returned to the scenery outside his window, it was vastly different from his hometown. Despite that, though, it was still impressive. The sun was going down now, it was likely going to be dark by the time the train pulled in to Toran, so it'd be likely he'd have to find a place for the night. It was too bad he forgot to get a map before he left, more specifically, a map of Toran. He was sure he wouldn't be on the train for that long, but with the stops, the trip had taken longer than he had expected. His thoughts now switched to his plans, he had to find successful breeders, they could likely give him some pointers on how to breed properly. It wasn't much longer after the sun had gone down that the train started coming to a stop, the conductor announcing they were arriving in Toran. Kito remained in his seat while people passed, watching them carefully, finally getting up and following everyone off the train. Once off the train and out of the station, he found himself in the city. Looking around, he began to walk, taking in the sights. This was the first time he had ever been to Toran, it looked vastly different than Sakura, and even had it's own culture. He wondered if the breeders here had their own style that was similar to the culture of Toran? He hoped they did, it would be interesting to learn another culture's breeding methods. Now focused on this singular thought, Kito continued through the streets of Toran, half-searching for shelter for the night, half-wandering around.

+ Kasumi Touhou +

The city of Toran was not one known for ever being dull - and on this day in particular, something quite exciting indeed was happening: A woman in a fox mask tore through the streets of Toran, weaving and bobbing her way through the crowds of people that seemed to accumulate near train stations, as she was pursued by several angry passengers from one of the trains that had just arrived, who had the lazy policemen that had boarded the trains to serve as security, not used to incidents of such high adrenaline and speed trailing even further behind them, seemingly already out of breath.

The woman, known in the East as the Fox-Faced Thief, had just stolen the valuables from the pockets of every person on the train before she had left - and had left them near the doors with a calling card, as was her custom. Back in the East, the Fox-Faced Thief had been known primarily for showing the corrupt aristocracy just how fallacious their ideas of security were, and it had been rumoured that Jantonna du Soleil, the Arena Master, had acquired the use of her services in order to begin to dispel the heavy corruption that lingered in Orin. How true these allegations were was up in the air, but most people knew that the Fox-Faced Thief had made marked impacts in the most recent war, stealing supplies from supply lines, stealing military intelligence, and in rare but memorable cases, stealing the lives of important targets. The anonymity had proven itself quite useful in those times, and after the war there had been a lack of noted activity from the thief, but the cleverest people realised that that only meant that they hadn't been caught.

Now, in the city of Toran, she was making a scene again just to let people know that she hadn't given up on the game. Officers shouted after her, members of the public tried to assist in arresting her, but she had been dancing this dance for much longer than any of them - after a brief sprint forwards, and a sharp turn to the left, the Fox-Faced Thief was gone from the public eye once more - but her legacy of having people fear for their valuables remained in the air, like a heavy fog weighing down upon the average Toranese person.

Perhaps her entrance could have been a little cleaner - but she doubted very much that it would have been nearly as much fun. As much fun as it had been, however, her business in Toran was very real and very pressing - her family had suggested that she start her Rites, which were a necessary part of being included in the familial line of succession. While it was true that in recent times few trainers ever fully completed their rites, their attempting them (and succeeding at least somewhat) was considered to be important to the more aristocratic families, not only to show their success, but to ensure that only the most worthy heirs were selected to carry on the family's legacy. For Kasumi Touhou, the first-born child of the scions of the Touhou family, her rites were particularly important.

Taking the brief respite she had to cover her tracks, it was a simple enough matter to pull a dress over her jumpsuit and hide her mask in her backpack - though she wasn't a huge fan of showing people her face, her presence in Toran would be noted and word sent back to her parents, this way. It was for the best that she laid low for a little while - and the Red Nakumo restaurant was perhaps her favourite haunt for doing so.

It was a good turnout for the venue. Six, maybe seven dozen folk milled around in front of the stage, chatting and sipping at beers in clear plastic cups. Over on the opposite wall, a man was selling T-shirts and albums displaying the logo "ELECTRIC HAZARD" in bright yellow lettering above an Olena and a Sparwire. A haze clung to the dimly lit ceiling. A trio of girls stood in a corner, puffing on a cigarette they were passing around.

"How's it looking, Dom?"

Dom looked over his shoulder and flashed a toothy grin. "Pretty damn good, I think. Couple pretty ladies for me, a tall brooding gentleman in the back for you." Chelle Lee rolled her eyes and sent an elbow into Dom's ribs. He let out a loud oomph as the air rushed out of him. "Careful, bitch, we go on in a minute."

Dominic Fox was a tall and lanky young man. His mother swore that from the day he turned twelve to the day he turned thirteen, he had grown a foot and a half. At six feet one inch, he rose above the heads of the average person in Nerta, but his slender build betrayed him, to his chagrin; unless he was directly next to somebody, he was often mistaken for being much shorter. His body was slim, not an ounce of fat to be found on him, but barely a muscle, either. Sullen cheeks, sharp cheekbones, and a pointed chin gave him the slightest of emaciated looks, but with a quick glance at his vibrant blue eyes, one knew he was the life of the party.

His blond hair was worn long and shaggy. Hanging almost to the base of his neck and down in front of his eyes, it was in dire need of a trim and a wash. Over it Dom wore an electric yellow bandanna, the same color of his sneakers. Skinny navy jeans, almost dark enough to be black, came up to his waist, and he wore only a black leather vest over his bare chest, covered only by the pair of guitar picks on a metal chain. Hairless, the skin gleamed with sweat from the red backstage lights. His guitar was slung over his back, glossy white wood reflecting the light at strange angles.

Michelle Lee, preferred name Chelle Lee, was not amused at her partner's antics. A serious-looking girl of twenty-three, Chelle Lee was band manager, drummer, backup singer, and Dom's best friend since childhood. Her naturally black hair had been dyed with streaks of purple and red, and it hung down to her waist in a ponytail. Her almond-shaped eyes were currently narrowed at Dom's wry joke. A round, flat, cute face led her to be the desire of many men who attended their concerts. She was short, only five feet three, but there was something about the way she stood that demanded attention and compliance with whatever she was saying.

Presently, she was wearing a T-shirt with their band logo emblazed above a Sparwire in flight. Her body was also slim, though not so much as Dom's. Her bust was small but ample, and her waist thin. A miniskirt in black and yellow went down to her mid thighs, where they met her long, unmatching socks. Her right was a swirl of black and purple, the left a stripe of red and blue.

Dom smiled down at his best friend after he had caught his breath. "You ready for this? Toran's nothing we've done before."

"Fuck yeah, I'm ready," Chelle Lee replied, twirling a drumstick in her right hand. She turned her head to their third member. "Did you get the line down? You were fucking up on Kyonshi Country last night at practice." Electric Hazard was notorious for being unable to pin down a bassist, and this was the third in as many gigs. A native to Toran, he was clothed in generic rock attire into which not much description would be spared because of the lack of importance this certain band member had. His name was even so unimportant that Dom had not even bothered to learn the man's name.

"Yeah, yeah, I got it. No need to worry," the nameless bassist replied.

"Good," Dom replied. "We can't be fucking up on our first gig in Toran, ya hear? Good. Okay. Alright. We'll be good." He was nervous, sweating already. His legs and arms twitched with anticipation. Hopping from one foot to the other, he tried to release some of his built-up energy.

Chelle Lee placed a hand on his forearm. "Chill. You're psyching me out. Just play it cool." She gave him a look and he nodded, settling down.

"Yeah, you're right. This'll be a breeze." He ran his thumb over the two picks on his neck. They held his two Natrelmon, Spaz and Needle. Spaz had been with him since he was ten, a fast friend ever since he had ventured into the forests of Armkfish and had found the injured baby Sparwire. The Nakumo was a much more recent addition, part of a Trainer recruitment package. He and Chelle Lee had registered for licenses. Seeing how they would be on tour to promote their brand anyways, it wouldn't hurt to learn the ins and outs of Natrelmon battling along the way.

The stage manager, a short balding man, pushed past the band and walked onto the stage. As he grabbed the microphone, the crowd grew quiet and turned their attention to the front. "Ladies and gentlemen," the stage manager started, "it's time for the event you've all been waiting for! Please put your hands together forrrrrrr.... Electriiiiiiiiiic Hazaaaaaaaard!"

Dom led the way past the curtains as the crowd cheered and clapped wildly. He flashed his toothy grin to the audience as he tapped one of his guitar picks and muttered, "Fly free, free bird." In a flash of light, Spaz appeared above his head, twittering and fluttering about the venue. The crowd seemed to enjoy that, their cheers growing louder. Out of the corner of his eye, Dom saw Chelle Lee roll her eyes again, but she couldn't help but smile as she released her Olena.

The band took up positions and plugged in their instruments. Dom stepped up to the mic and gripped it with one hand as Spaz flapped down and landed on his shoulder. "How's everyone doing tonight?"

Cheers.

"Damn, this is a good crowd. Toran Dockside Clubhouse, thank you for coming out tonight. We've got a hell of a show for you. First up is one that I'm sure you've all been dying to hear." He nodded at the nameless bassist, who nodded back that he was ready.

"You fuckin' ready to rock, Toran?!" Chelle Lee screamed from behind her drumset.

Cheers.

"One, two, three, four!" "Fuckin' hell that was a good show," Dom was saying, his arm tightly around Chelle Lee's shoulders. Try as she might, she could not wipe the smile off of her face. Dom was right; it had been a good show, apart from the bassist fucking up Kyonshi Country. She had had a few choice words with him after the gig, and in a rage he had quit the tour. Perhaps she could try to teach Cloak to play the bass... But somehow she doubted an Olena could figure out the intricacies of tabs.

The two were walking down the streets of Toran, the cool sea air a sweet relief from the stuffy interior of the Dockside Clubhouse. Chelle Lee's Eishund walked obediently at their side, its nose held high in the air. Dom's Sparwire flapped around their heads, creating a nice breeze.

"We'll have to find another bassist, though," Chelle Lee said. Despite her good mood, as band manager she needed to concentrate on the future of their tour. Without a bassist, they wouldn't be able to play, and not being able to play meant the end of their tour and their chance to get their name out to the rest of Nerta.

"Relax," Dom replied. "We don't play again for another three days. We'll find somebody."

Chelle Lee took a deep breath, trying to let go of the stress. "Yeah, I'm not having any of it. We'll relax tonight, but first thing tomorrow, we're putting out notices and finding a bassist."

"Fair enough, fair enough. You're the boss."

They rounded a corner and came to a section of newly-paved street. New buildings were being erected, but the sign of damage was still plainly visible. Rising from the center of the block, in front of the Toran Arena, was an obsidian pillar, five-sided and tapering to a point at the top. Wreaths and flowers lay at its base.

The two grew quiet. Even in Armkfish the tale of the fight in Toran was talked about with worry. There were those who believed it would be the spark to rekindle the war between East and West. While that hadn't been the case, the damage here was severe enough to show the terrors of war.

"You sure you won't have problems going East?" Dom asked quietly.

Chelle Lee shook her head. She was scared, of course. Her father had gone East to fight and had never come home. There had not been enough mercy in her heart to completely forgive the Easterners, but the past was the past. The war was over, and Electric Hazard was her life now.

"C'mon. Let's get something to eat," Dom said, taking her gently by the arm and leading her away. "I hear there's a good southern barbecue place a few blocks from here. Perhaps we'll also find some other Trainers, or someone who can play the bass."

Chelle Lee let him lead her away, thankful for his thoughtfulness. Dom had always been there for her. He knew when to be wild and when to be comforting, and she knew that he would take a bullet for her at a moment's notice. It was nice to have a friend in this wild world.

After gathering some extra relics, Kito decided to set off in search of some new Natrelmon, hoping to add some new members to his team. After debating with himself for twenty minutes, he settled on heading into the forest, figuring a large variety of Natrelmon would be there. And since he was a breeder, it would help him gather the Natrelmon he'd need for his own farm in the future. Keeping his wits about him, he slowly entered the darkened forest, which apparently seemed even darker now that it was evening. His first twelve minutes produced nothing for him, save for a cut on his arm from a low branch he didn't see. After taking a brief rest, he heard something in the bushes ahead of where he sat, about thirty feet from him. Slowly standing and bracing for an ambush from another human being, he discovered it was actually a wild Metosune. Watching it carefully, it seemed to stare back, as if it was eager for a fight. Lifting his hand, Kito held his ring up towards the creature, "Sakura-re, I call for your assistance." he said, the gem flashing brightly. Kito watched as two orbs formed near Sakura-re, "Place the Light of Indolu twenty feet ahead of you, and the Light of Ielle twelve feet to your left." he instructed her. Kito knew he had an advantage over Metosune with Sakura-re's typing, but he wasn't sure how strong his opponent really was. Once the orbs were set, he saw his opponent charge forward for a couple seconds, then release a cylinder of dark energy straight at them. Kito barely had time to move out of the line of fire, though his Natrelmon took a direct hit due to his delayed reaction time. It was clear his opponent was going to try taking them out as fast as possible.

Looking towards Sakura-re, he expected her to be somewhat tired already, but was surprised to see she was still up and ready to fight. That's right, Light types are resistant to Dark moves, so an attack like that one won't hurt her as much as it should. he thought to himself. "Right, let's go. Disperse your seeds before using Gaiashock." he called. Metosune was already moving to avoid the attack, headed to the right, opposite the orbs. However, in anticipation of the tactic, Sakura-re had waited until it moved before launching the green orb to where it would move to. It hit and caused the creature to stumble left a few feet. Kito smirked, while the attack did little damage, it helped to direct Metosune in the direction favorable to Sakura-re. The creature now charged up a black ball of energy and released it, aiming straight for one of Sakura-re's roots. "Evade, quickly!" he shouted, watching her dodge to the left. Kito watched as the Light of Ielle moved two feet to the right, knowing Sakura-re had an idea. He caught on and chuckled to himself, "Alright, one more Gaiashock attack should do it." he called. Metosune waited until the last moment to move out of the way, avoiding the attack, but landing close enough to the Light of Indolu to be open to attacks from it's light radius. This time, the creature used an attack involving jutting spikes, which hit. Kito noticed that Sakura-re was starting to get tired, she couldn't take too many more strong hits like that. He had to end the fight, and now. "Right! Now Sakura-re! Radiant Star!" he shouted to her. The attack came from the Light of Indolu and struck Metosune almost instantly, causing it to tumble to the right. Afterwards, it tried to stand, only to fall back to the ground, glaring in anger at Kito.

"You still want to fight? You sure are stubborn, but I'm not interested in fighting to the death. All I want is to catch as many Natrelmon as I can and open a breeding farm. So, with that said..." he reaches into his pocket and grabs one of his relics, pulling out a medallion on a silver chain. "...I'll go ahead and try to catch you. Medallion, I command you to ensnare Metosune!" he chanted. The medallion glowed black, in accordance with Metosune's appearance and primary type, the creature disappearing as it was absorbed into the relic. The medallion turned a solid black color, signifying Metosune had been successfully captured within. Looking towards Sakura-re, he smiled, "You fought well, my friend, go ahead and take a rest. You earned it." he said, holding the ring up. He put the medallion on and looked in the direction he came, "Probably not a wise idea to stay here for much longer, Sakura-re and Metosune are weak, and Elwis won't do so well against any other Dark-types that might show up. I think I'll call it a night and try again in the morning." he said to himself. He made his way out of the forest and back towards the city without incident, stopping to get directions to a hotel, being told to head in the direction of what was called the Red Nakumo restaurant. After thanking the individual, he headed in the direction he was pointed in, hoping to finally get some rest.

Amelia gazed out of the train window. She was leaving Ward behind. Her mother sent her off with her blessing.
'Your life is elsewhere.' she had said. Oh! How she hoped her mother was right. Toran had many books. They should be able to assist her search for new ways to breed Natrelmon. That is if she can find them. Absentmindedly she began to bounce one of her legs. The anklet she bounced as well. It made a soothing tinkle sound as the gems clinked together.

The train slowly rolled to a stop and she exited, stretching her legs. She was in Toran now. The first of many places to start her research. However, it was dark and it was likely there would be no library open until morning. With a huff, Amelia set to looking for a place to sleep. At first, a glance around revealed there was nothing near the train station. She had to go within the town to find a place.

As she walked, her bare feet hit the pavement with a quiet pit pat and her anklet made a soft jingle with each step. This place was interesting in the dark, but she needed to find a place that was remotely safe. Amelia spied an inn just a short walk away. Upon entering, she decided it was an okay place to rest for the night. In the morning she would head out and see it she could find any natrelmon. Over hearing about a nearby restaurant called Red Nakumo, she decided she would have breakfast there in the morning before she set out. She walked up to the desk to see if she could get a room.

The white haired male came to a stop upon cresting the small hill before him, slowly, he turned and shielded his eyes from the low hanging sun to see the collection of structures beyond the forest he'd passed not even a day before hand, sighing gently, he tore his gaze from his hometown of Armkfish and continued on. To his south west lay the mountain ranges that separated his home from the city or Ward, and would remain to his south west for another few days before they were directly above him and behind as he entered Ward proper.

This was three days ago, since then, he'd reached Ward and boarded the train to Toran, destined for the city purely for the knowledge that there would be other trainers like him, and, the arena, which gave him ample opportunity to study others in their style of combat. As the train came to a halt, his hand rose, brushing the crucifix that hung around his neck and brought a rare smile to his face. His memories returned as the doors opened and he slipped from his seat, leaving the train, and the station within a matter of mere moments.

Looking back one last time, his home was lost to the horizon and this, for some unknown reason, caused him to smile softly. Slowly, his gaze lifted towards the city of Toran, the smile fading as he headed towards the first building he saw, rapidly deducing it to be an inn, he drew nearer to it, his gauntleted hand sliding into his pocket, testing the weight of his wallet and the coin within, yet another smile toyed his lips, causing his brow to furrow. Why he was smiling so much, he didn't know, but it disturbed him a little.

Shrugging slightly, he walked into the Inn, spotting a girl ahead of him, barefoot and enquiring about a room for the night, upon seeing and hearing the conversation, he decided to hang back a little, waiting for her to finish before he copied her motions, his eyes casting around the room, reading every tiny detail in that way of his. Finally, his grey eyes fell back to the desk, deciding to approach it, standing beside Amelia, yet not interacting or making his presence too known as he waited patiently.

Ritoi

Ritoi stood against the setting sun in the forest of Toran skyline, hiding his golden flames within the light. He could feel an ominous presence in the air around Toran. It was that force that drew him here. Focusing his energy with a roar, he let the flames that sheathed his body run wild for a moment, brightening the area to show his strength, but leaving the ground uncharred. Ritoi's was one of the strongest Natrelmon inhabiting the world, so the display of power was even more impressive, even if it did nothing to dispel the feelings he had.

Few had seen Ritoi in person, as most Natrelmon of his caliber avoided contact with humans outside specific circumstances. Most of what was known about him was left to old legends passed down from person to person and a scant few written works on the subject of Natrelmon of his level. Whatever this force was, it was not intimidated by his status and power, which did merit concern from Ritoi. Despite his pride and strength, he was not above bringing in allies such as Yoko, Tasri, or even the legendary Suzaku in on these matters, but it was likely that they were already aware of the growing darkness in Atren.

For now, it was worth waiting around Toran to protect the trainers that were starting out on their rites. They were at the greatest risk in this world, lacking the experience and raw strength to deal with some of the greater threats that existed in the world. With time, they would be able to protect themselves, but for now it was his duty to protect the 'young'. Sitting in a regal pose, the lion Natrelmon dominated the clearing as he surveyed the distant cityscape of Toran.

Kito was mere steps from the front door of the hotel he decided to stay at, when he noticed the purple gem in his ring glow, Sakura-re appearing before him. "Sakura-re? I didn't call you, why are you here?" he asked, clearly confused. She turned in the direction of the forest, letting out a cry of her own. Turning his head towards the forest, he saw nothing at first, but he suddenly felt something call to him. "Something's out there, isn't it?" he asked her, placing a hand on one of her branches. Knowing how in tune with nature the Natrelmon was, he was sure there was something out there that concerned her, especially if she emerged from her relic so suddenly. "Alright, Sakura-re, let's go find out what has you so concerned." he said, the gem glowing once again. He made the trek back towards the forest, stopping to adjust his ring, turning it so the hidden small black gem was visible. If whatever it was wanted to fight, he would use his strongest Natrelmon, Elwis. Stepping into the forest, he expected it to be dark like before, but it appeared to be the opposite. Coming to the conclusion that whatever had caught Sakura-re's attention, was also producing this light, he decided to follow it to it's source. As he walked, he noticed there were no signs of other Natrelmon around, it appeared they were intentionally avoiding the clearing that was ahead. Kito knew that whatever was in the clearing, was powerful, and it likely would be able to obliterate both himself and any of his Natrelmon. No turning back now... he thought to himself, taking a deep breath.

As he crossed the threshold that was the treeline, he was met with blinding light. His glasses did nothing to reduce the brightness, but eventually his eyes became accustomed to the light, and what he saw before him was something impossible. As a boy his parents told him stories of Natrelmon so rare, that they were believed to be myth, and many people didn't believe they existed. He grew up fascinated with one particular tale, the tale of Ritoi. He grew up believing the tale was just that, a story meant to entertain children, there was no way Ritoi was real. Yet here it was, standing right in front of him, as a living, breathing Natrelmon. Kito could do nothing but gape at Ritoi, having lost all sense upon seeing it. The thought to capture it never crossed his mind, not something that was meant to be free. Slowly regaining his senses, he lifted a hand, removing his glasses to reveal the unusual eye colors he had. His left was yellow, the right, purple. He took a step forward, presenting himself, "You must have been the one who caught Sakura-re's attention, and I can understand why now. But, why are you here, Ritoi? Why risk being seen by greedy people who would attempt to catch you?" he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. Unknown to him, he was being watched from a distance, the shadows hiding the observer.

Ritoi

Ritoi hadn't expected to be found by anyone in the clearing. Kito's presence, however, didn't phase him.

~Quite possibly,~ Ritoi responded, his deep voice echoing through Kito's mind. ~Your Natrelmon serves you well if so. Such attunement to the surroundings is quite rare, but I will admit that my presence is hard to miss when I don't wish to put effort into not being seen.~ It was honest praise, Ritoi's tone true, ~As for my presence, there are things in this world that your kind are ignorant to, not out of any fault of your own, but due to the cunning of these threats. I am here to ensure the safety of this town for now.~

Ritoi's tone shifted however, to address Kito's concerns of him being captured, from the serious tone he had once had to one of sheer amusement, ~The threat humans pose to me is rather small. There are few Natrelmon alive that have the strength to match me in combat.~ It was clear Ritoi was not speaking out of vain pride. The subtle shift in tone towards the end indicated that he knew his limits in combat and it was that skill that had allowed him to avoid capture for thousands of years.

~I would ask that you keep my presence in this area to yourself,~ Ritoi added, yawning, exposing his teeth in a non-threatening fashion, ~I would not want to get the city riled up with an effort to capture me. It could make my job more difficult.~ It was a request with honest respect for Kito as a person, despite the fact Ritoi could easily utilize force to ensure that Kito kept his presence to himself. It was not in his nature to utilize his powers in such a fashion. Most of the other Guardians, the Natrelmon that worked directly under the Legendaries, felt the same in their interactions with humans.

When Kito first heard Ritoi's voice in his mind, it felt like he was being torn in a billion different directions all at the same time. The pain was excruciating, so much that he was forced to his knees, his glasses falling from his hand. However, the pain subsided, and Kito was able to hear Ritoi's powerful voice as he spoke. Slowly getting to his feet, glasses in hand once again, he listened to what he said. He smiled a little when Sakura-re was praised, though it faded when Ritoi's tone became more serious, mentioning there were dark things afoot. For Ritoi to come here and ensure the safety of the town and it's people, it had to be quite serious. The way he responded towards his concerns only reaffirmed the story he was told about the magnificent creature, humans stood no chance at ever capturing it. Kito turned his head back towards the city, staring at it as Ritoi spoke again. He didn't want the city riled up either, it wouldn't be good for anyone, along with Ritoi's point about it being difficult to do his job if word got out. It didn't matter if he was threatened, Kito had no intention of revealing the presence of a highly sought Natrelmon to anyone. Besides, it wasn't like he had many people to talk to as it stood, "Don't worry, Ritoi, I have no intention of telling anyone you're around." he replied. Turning his head back to the beast, he spoke again, "You said there were things humans have become ignorant to. Is it possible to see these things you speak of, and if so, would it be possible for me to learn to see these things? If the world is threatened, then it's up to both Natrelmon and their trainers to try and stop this thing. I may not know who the enemy is, Ritoi, but I do know I want to help protect this world." he said, his voice and tone sincere.

Ritoi

Ritoi listened to Kito's queries, as well as his commendable resolve to assist in his mission.

~The threats I speak of are ones you are not capable of handling yet. You are too young to this world and involving yourself would put you and your Natrelmon in danger. For now, let us worry about these things, but knowing they exist is a first step towards understanding the dangers of this world. There are forces as ancient and as powerful as we are, forces that lack the noble intentions with this world. One day you will have to face them and hopefully when you are ready, for there are some things from which no magic can bring you back.~

The lion Natrelmon moved closer to Kito, ~I cannot leave without rewarding you for your willingness to help.~

Putting his nose near the ground, a small object fell out of RItoi's maw, one of his teeth, ~Take this. With it, you shall unlock the magic of Pyromancy. As well, when you are feel ready, you may utilize the tooth to summon me to you once. Do not invoke that power unless you are in grave danger, or you feel you are capable of challenging me in even combat. I do look forward to the possibility of the latter.~

Ritoi moved back to the center of the clearing, ~For now, go and ensure you protect those that are weaker than yourself, for there are those that do the same for you. For now, that is your mission in the world and it is a most noble mission.~

With a echoing roar in the clearing and a flash of bright light, Ritoi vanished in an instance, a flicker of light moving rapidly in the distance as the Guardian of Justice left Kito to his task, as well as to think through what the Natrelmon had said. They would meet again one day, in some fashion. Ritoi suspected, and hoped, they would be on the same side as humans occasionally fell for the lure of power, or the desires of their heart.

---

Shio

Shio had been to the Red Nakumo once before. It was the restaurant that sparked her liking of traditional Toranese cuisine. The spicy noodles with various vegetables and meat drew made her mouth water. It was unusual for them to have eaten at such a restaurant, but the owner was insistent, and after taking the necessarily family precautions against various assassination attempts, they were cleared to eat there. Usually they only ate at particular, highly vetted, restaurants with food that lacked the color and flavor, specifically so they could easily pick up on any changes to their food, such as poison. So the Red Nakumo had been a rare treat, and now independent of her familial obligations, Shio was eager to treat herself once again.

At the restaurant she quickly acquired a table on the outdoor patio. Her Hitsuji and Kujaku accompanied her, the bird perching on the railing next to her table, and the sheep type Natrelmon taking a position across from her. While partially for her protection, Shio also enjoyed the presence of her Natrelmon. Despite her general inability to understand people, Shio had picked up that she occasionally took people off guard with her behavior. Her Natrelmon never felt that way, so she looked to them for support.

The waiter was quick to process her order, the son of the owner, who had remembered her. Once again, Shio found her food paid for, the son insisting that they could not take money from a distinguished guest such as herself. She bowed, staying silent to avoid offending anyone. She ordered, yet again, the spicy noodle dish she had the last time, accompanying it with another spicy herb dumpling appetizer. They never had gotten appetizers as children, or desert. They were often foods with poor health benefits, designed only for flavor, so they were always barred from ordering such things. It was Shio's intention to experience these things.

Shio examined the area, watching the sun set along the shore, which the restaurant had a clear view of. She had only seen a sunset along a coast once before and there was something about the colors that drew her in. The last time she had seen it had been when they were waiting to exorcise a ghost from an old manner in Armkfish, so she hadn't been able to truly examine the natural wonder that it was.

Moments later, her food arrived. The dumplings were as delicious as she expected, quickly scarfing them down after loading them up with the dark red sauce that accompanied them. She had no idea what was in it, but it was a unique experience for her. Pulling out a notebook that she kept in her pack, she wrote it down in her list of experiences. It wasn't a checklist like some would expect, but things that she felt she wanted to do, or eat, again. Also as expected, her noodle dish was incredible. She had ordered it as extra spicy, to provide a slightly different experience from her last. She ate it more slowly, both from the spice, and from her desire to savor the experience. She even let her Natrelmon try some of the noddles. Her Kujaku didn't seem to hate it, but her Hitsuji had no interest in eating anything more than a single noodle. The owner's son, taking note of the Natrelmon, brought out two dishes for Shio's companions, with a flavor pallet designed to be appealing to each. Restaurants in Atren very frequently had Natrelmon specific menus to cater to the trainer's companions as well. Like her own food, it was complimentary.

Soon it would be time for Shio to return to her Inn, as the day began to dwindle.

"An Enyo, also starting her rites?" Kasumi Touhou laughed as she pulled up a chair to Shio's table. Asking for permission from a lower family was something that those of high-Eastern ancestry would not even have begun to consider - and knowing both Kasumi and Shio's personalities, it is not something that either would have found at all strange. Kasumi did not bring any of her food over to the table, having long-since finished her Drunken Noodles and Dumpling Soup, but sat simply to engage in the elaborate ruse of being here for her Rites. It was something that her family had been quite insistent upon if she was to one day lead the house and inherit her parents' vast sums of wealth, which was something that she was understandably very eager to do.

Seeing that Shio had chosen to have her Natrelmon present, Kasumi did the same with a brief flash of light from her belt, resulting in her Gen sitting on top of her head in a meditative pose. The two had very recently been linked by the spiritual bond of Gishiki, and though she was extremely new to the art, she could tell that the daughter of the Enyo family before her was already very masterful in the spiritual arts. She had heard that Shio herself had sealed away the power of the head of the Dama family when they were ousted. It was an impressive feat, especially from a junior member of a lesser family who was yet to complete her Rites - and if nothing else, that earned Shio the respect of the eldest child of the Touhou family.

"'The sunset is always beautiful in the city of Toran', my father used to say. It is true, is it not?" She asked, mentally telling her Gen to bow and show the proper respect. It would likely be a motion not unnoticed by a member of the aristocracy of the East, but its significance was probably missed by the less formal members of the West. Historically, the West had valued very different attributes in a person to the East, and in recent times that had not changed much - things were beginning to be picked up and little nuances were beginning to be shared across the two cultures, but the Rites were truly the first step to appreciating the culture of a different world. The journey was meant to unite the heart, the soul, and the mind, but few trainers realised this when they set out upon the historic journey. It was a revelation that often came later to those who survived.

Kito watched as Ritoi departed, recalling the words he had spoken as he carefully picked up the tooth left in his possession, ancient evil as old as the Natrelmon themselves were at work. He was surprised to find the tooth was still quite warm, despite being in the cool air for awhile. Slipping the tooth into his pocket with due diligence, he replaced the glasses back on his face, looking towards the town again. Protect those weaker than I...a mission given to me by Ritoi. Don't worry, I'll do just that, I swear. he thought, finally starting to make his way to town. He played over what had happened in the clearing again, he still couldn't believe he had met Ritoi, it seemed almost as if he had dreamed the entire thing. Clutching the tooth in his pocket again, it convinced him it hadn't been a dream at all, that it had actually happened. He was now an ally of Ritoi's, that was clear right now. In the future though, who knows what would happen? Shaking his head, Kito pushed the negative thoughts aside and headed for the treeline out of the forest, only to stop when he heard a growl. Turning slowly, he saw a pair of eyes in the darkness leering at him, the growling becoming more a threat now. Judging from the fact he couldn't see the body, he figured it was a dark-type Natrelmon, which meant Sakura-re would likely be optimal for fighting with. However, Sakrua-re was still weak from her last battle, and Kito knew this. The Natrelmon, however, made no attempt to attack him. It seemed as if it was warning him to leave and never return, which seemed like odd behavior to him, though for now he'd leave and return when it was light out. This creature intrigued him, and he wasn't about to let it scare him off so easily.

Backing up slowly, he left the forest, the pair of eyes watching him as he returned to Toran, unable to figure out why it didn't attack him when it had the chance. Deciding it was getting too late for him to try and figure it out, he figured he'd try and make sense of it in the morning. He made his way through the streets, past the Red Nakumo restaurant, stopping for a few moments to observe a pair of trainers and their Natrelmon. He could tell the two knew each other by the way they spoke to one another, it made him recall an old friend of his from the past, Amelia. He wondered what happened to her since she returned back home to Ward, did she ever continue her breeding studies like he had suggested? Sighing, he continued on his way, locating the hotel he had stopped at when Sakura-re appeared. This time things were quiet, he saw no sign of any of his Natrelmon. With that, he opened the door to the hotel, immediately spotting a couple people at the desk already. He noticed one was barefoot, which he found to be somewhat odd. Making his way to the desk, he leaned on it, "A room please." he asked the attendant, whom seemed to be busy trying to get the others in order. "Right, just call me when you're ready. Name's Kito." he told the attendant before taking a seat to wait.

As Amelia waited for her room key, someone came up next to her and just.. stood. This peeved her slightly as he made no moves nor spoke. He was just there. Her heart quickened and silly scenarios ran through her mind.
What if he was going to murder her? What if he was going to take everyone in the building hostage?! What if he was one of those people that ate other people?!?

Now Amelia was quietly hyperventilating. Her hands visibly shook as she took the key from the attendant. She started to walk away, that is until she heard the name 'Kito'. She immediately spun around, the voice sounded familiar.
"K-kito?" She stammered, her eyes widened as she saw him. "KITO!" Amelia ran and practically squished Kito into the seat he was in as she smothered him with a hug.
Oh! It had been far too long!

Sigma's eyes flicked to the girl beside him as she reached for her key, visibly shaking. Slowly, he shook his head, finally opening his mouth to speak before she stopped and ran to the male that had entered soon after himself. Rolling the pale grey orbs, he turned his attention back to the attendant "A room, if you would be so kind" he purred, silently cursing the softness of his own voice before his mouth clamped shut.

A moment, later, he reached for the key, taking it lightly in his gauntleted hand before heading down the corridor, following the number on the fob and the doors to find his room, leaving Amelia and Kito behind, lost, once more, in his own thoughts. Coming to a stop outside his room, a dry chuckle left him, 19, his own lucky number shone down at him, he couldn't believe it had taken him this long to realise the humor in the situation. Shrugging, he walked inside, the black gloved hand thrust into his back pocket as he moved.

Caelyn had been on many journeys all around Sandshaw. He had done this same beaten path with nothing to show for it. Many memories with his Natrelmon that's for sure. But other than that, nothing. He was deep in thought while looking over the valley below him. It was beautiful, he had watched Crowire, and Eishund both evolve. It's been a long road, and they only battled when they needed. It was exhilarating thought to be sure, but he had seen enough fighting and it scared him that his father would come out in him. He shuddered as the memory of his mothers face contorted in his mind. Eishund nudged Caelyn as if knowing where his mind is going. "What should I do girl? I mean you know be better than most." Eishund's fur started glowing, as if to make her shine brighter. "What are you trying to say?" At the same time Crowire landed on his shoulder. Caelyn giggled. "Ohhh, I see. Are you guys wanting more friends?" Both natrelmon let out a jubilant cry.

Caelyn had heard about a town where people could go to start their journey with natrelmon. And although he had been with his for some time, he truthfully was quite the novice. He didn't know the technical side of Natrelmon, and he soon realized that bothered him. "Hmm, maybe this is what I want to do. I am a damned fool for taking this long to decide it though. The answer has literally been right in front of me." He sighed, it seemed Caelyn was always the last to know, even when it came to himself. So he decided to hop the train to Toran and try to start his journey.

Caelyn stepped off the train after a very long ride, and the sun temporarily blinded him. The rush of fresh air was rewarding. Tons of people and trainers swirled around the train station trying to get a bearing. Caelyn was used to being on his own so the rush of all these people was a bit overwhelming to him. He scrambled to find a bench. He pulled out the map he had gotten at the train station of Toran. He noticed their was a hotel. It would be a good place to start. Get to a place to settle in, and then he could get on the hunt for some wild Natrelmon.

While standing in line, a young woman was trembling. He almost offered her assurance, but he knew that would be rude. Then instantly, she turned and shouted "KITO!" and Caelyn jumped. It had startled him, and he blushed hoping no one would notice. "Uh, I need a room, how much do you guys charge?" he asked the hotel attendant. He settled up and headed to his room, looking back at the girl and the guy embrace. Some things, natrelmon just can't help with he thought as he entered his room.

Almost as soon as he sat down, he heard his name shouted, startling him. As a reaction to him being startled, the black gem glowed, Elwis materializing behind Amelia. As it prepared to protect Kito, a voice was heard, "It's alright Elwis, it's only Amelia, you remember her." he said, once free of the suffocating and unexpected hug. Elwis floated to the side, getting a better look at the woman. He backed away when he recognized her, though he kept his eyes on her, clearly not trusting her fully. After hugging her back, Kito stood, "Don't mind Elwis, I don't think he ever got over you leaving Sakura. I think he might still be a little upset with you." he told her. The attendant called his name and he went to retrieve his key, "So, Amelia, how have things been since we last saw each other? Keeping up with your breeding studies, I hope?" he asked, his guard dropping. It was funny, moments ago he had wanted to know how Amelia was doing, and here she was, obviously looking well. Catching up on the last three years would be great, at least, he thought so. He knew Ward had been the focus of the war, in fact, everyone knew that. He hadn't expected Amelia to ever return back to Ward, being under the impression that it would likely be reduced to rubble. When he learned she would be returning home, it was obvious to him that Ward was completely fine, at least structurally. "How have Ward's people been? I hear they're still rebuilding their relationships with the other cities, I imagine it's difficult." he said, turning to her as Elwis moved behind him.

~Double post~

The smell of sweat, alcohol, and cigarette smoke filled the air of the club. The band on stage currently was wailing loudly as Dom hunched over the bar, nursing his drink. Beside him, Chelle Lee was tapping her foot along with the beat and watching the show. "They're pretty good!" she shouted, her yell a whisper compared to the audio output of the speakers.

"Eh," Dom replied, unimpressed. "They don't have any style. All they do is bitch and moan to guitar riffs." He downed the rest of his scotch. "You wanna get out of here? Find something better to do?"

Chelle Lee shrugged. "Like what? It's not like there's all that much to do. Besides, I'm all out of Relics after getting that Ocalia." She patted her purse, where the Relic of her new acquisition currently rested.

"I'm hungry as fuck. Let's go eat."

Chelle Lee rolled her eyes but nodded. "Fine. You're buying." Dom grinned and led the way out of the club and into the cool air of downtown Toran. The sun was setting, casting long shadows from the commercial buildings all around. The streets were crowded with folk spending their evenings shopping or exercising or just general going out.

"What's good here?" Dom asked.

"There are a few places listed on NatrelYelp," Chelle Lee responded, flipping through pages on her PDA. "The Apache Margrave, the Broken Kyretu... ooh, the Red Nakumo sounds good." She flashed the device at Dom. The screen showed a small restaurant on the other side of town.

"'Traditional Toran cuisine.' Hm. Sounds good to me," Dom replied, motioning for Chelle Lee to lead the way.